THEY DECIDED TO WAIT OUTSIDE, in the beautiful meadow that was where their cottage, their semi-permanent home, was situated, for Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, to arrive, Edward taking her into his arms, like how a groom carried his new bride, pressing a sweet, cold kiss to her forehead, then her lips. She bit her lip, because she hated having to do this, absolutely loathed it, as she loved being in Edwards arms, but she asked him to momentarily set her down so she could get her handbag, the one containing the lip balm Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, had given her yesterday, apply some lip balm to her lips, and Edward could pick out a shawl for her to wear, as she wasn't leaving the cottage without one, wasn't risking him not wanting to hold her close because of the cold temperature of his skin. They completed their respective tasks, Edward ending up choosing the same shawl she wore yesterday, wrapping it about her body, making sure it would keep her warm, wouldn't be blown away by the wind as they ran

.

Again, Edward picked her up, like how a groom carried his new bride, and this time, Bella didn't stop him, tell him to set her down, simply wrapped her arms about his neck, snuggled into him.

Soon as they stepped outside, there was a bright flash of light, Elizabeth already corporeal. Edward's beloved mother, she was a strong, beautiful butterfly, was clothed in a long frock made of deep blue silk and velvet, the pattern woven into the beautiful, expensive fabrics one of hydrangeas, a symbol of family unity. Her silhouette, as always, was that of an s-shaped figure, as she was no doubt wearing a chemise, corset, and petticoats. The sleeves of her dress were, akin to Bella's, short, had a delicate trimming of lace that was beautifully embroidered. Her hair, so much like that of her beloved son, was up in a knot on top of her head, not unlike Bella's. Edward set Bella down and Elizabeth took them lovingly into her arms without saying a word. "Mama." That single word was filled with a thousand unspoken things, a thousand different emotions.

Elizabeth stroked Edward's hair soothingly, like how, Bella imagined, she'd done when he was a child, pressed a kiss to his forehead, then did the same to Bella's. "Hush, my Edward, my son, my beautiful boy, I am here, I am here." Elizabeth began rocking them to and fro, continuing to stroke Edward's hair soothingly. They stood thus for several minutes, before Elizabeth broke away, pressed a kiss to Edwards forehead. "Come, let us now take our leave to the Cullen household so we might get everything set up before Charlie arrives."

Cheeks creasing and eyes shining, as if, if such a thing was even possible, he'd cry right then, Edward lifted Bella up into his arms, like how a groom carried his new bride, began to run, Elizabeth able to keep up with them without any problem despite her not being a vampire. Bella laughed, carefree and happy, she loved running with Edward, in his arms, loved the feeling of the wind against her face, the way they passed through the trees so fast they were naught but a blur. All too soon, he was slowing down, his run turning into a light jog, bounding lightly up the steps to the Cullen household, his beloved mother, Elizabeth, beside him. The door was opened by Carlisle, who was dressed in a suit this time. "Hello, Elizabeth, Edward, Bella." Carlisle greeted the three of them with a kiss on the cheek, Edward not setting Bella down yet, letting her go.

They walked into the living room, where Esme, dressed in a long, silver, sleeveless frock, her hair down, was waiting. Bella looked up at the sound of footsteps, was surprised to see Alice, a determined look on her face, walking in. What was going on? Why was Alice here? Wasn't she suppose to be at school along with Jasper, Emmet, and Rosalie? Before Bella could ask Carlisle and Esme why Alice was here, Edward let out a hiss through his teeth, tightened his hold around Bella, cradling her closer to him. "Absolutely not, Alice, I am not letting Bella go, relinquishing her to you."

Alice sighed, rolled her eyes, let out a deep breath that was audible even to Bella's ears, bounded up to the two of them, attempted to pry Bella away from Edward. "Come on, Edward, don't be like that, it will just be for a couple of minutes, I won't even do it at human speed, will do it as fast as I can."

Edward cradled Bella even closer to him, pressed a kiss to her throat, his cold, sweet, addictive, intoxicating breath washing over her skin. "I said no, Alice, I will not change my mind, no matter what you say to me, be it out loud or in your thoughts."

Alice opened her mouth, went to speak again, but Elizabeth held up a hand, stopping her. Relinquish Bella to her for what? What is going on, my Edward, my beautiful boy, my son, what does Alice wish to do with Bella?"

Edward turned to his beloved mother, Elizabeth, an exasperated, loving look on his beautiful, perfect, angel's face. The love, Bella knew, it was directed towards her and Elizabeth, and the exasperation, it was no doubt because of what Alice was thinking, what she wanted to do with Bella, the fact that she wanted him to relinquish her to her when it was totally unnecessary. "Alice wishes me to relinquish my beautiful bride-to-be so she can take her to her room, treat her as her own, personal, life-size Barbie, put makeup on her already flawless, beautiful skin. The look she wants to do on her . . ." Edward shuddered, pressed a kiss to Bella's forehead, then her lips, and Bella had the feeling he was trying to comfort her as much as himself. "It is not subtle but elegant, akin to the two looks she did for her when we went to prom, one for the actual prom, the other for when we went to our meadow and I formally proposed to her, but exotic and dramatic, to cause a contrast with her beautiful, afternoon frock."

Now it was Bella's turn to shudder, press a warm kiss to Edward's neck, where, if he'd been human, he'd have a pulse, then his lips. Was Alice trying to give Charlie a heart attack? Because Charlie, he wasn't use to seeing Bella dressed like this, in frocks, especially not frocks like the one she was wearing now, was use to seeing her in jeans and t-shirts, her hair either up in a ponytail, a messy bun, or simply down, cascading over her shoulders and back.

In fact, Charlie had only ever seen her dressed like this once before, when she and Edward went to tell him of their engagement. She remembered Charlie's shocked expression when he first saw her, the way she was dressed—the way his mouth had dropped open, and while she wasn't a vampire, couldn't be certain of this, as she couldn't hear his heartbeat like Edward could, she was sure his heart had started beating faster for a second or two. Bella realized this, the fact that Alice could give Charlie a heart attack if she got her way, was the perfect excuse. "Um, Alice, you do not wish to give Charlie a heart attack, do you?"

Edward chuckled, low, soft, and musical. "Bella is right, Alice, Charlie has only ever seen her dressed like this once, and when he saw her his mouth dropped open, his heart beating faster for a second or two."

Alice let out an exasperated breath. "Fine, fine, you two win this round. I swear, the two of you are super clingy to one another, hating to be apart, love palpable throughout the whole house when you're in it. It's why I asked Carlisle to let me and Jasper stay home, be here for the meeting, Jasper loves feeling the emotions coming from the two of you, all the love, says that now that your mother is here, he can feel a different kind of love coming from the three of you, other than the romantic love you and Bella share, a love so deep, pure, he can't even name it, just like he can't quite name the love between you and Bella."

Out of nowhere, Alice got a suspicious look, narrowed her eyes. She reached out, lifted the skirts of Bella's frock, let out an angry, incredulous huff when she saw the shoes Bella was wearing. "Isabella," she set her hands on her hips, "you would throw a hissy fit if I so much as tried to put you in high heel shoes without having to use Edward to persuade you, but you let Edward do it?" She turned her glare to Edward. "And you, Edward Anthony, you should know better, you're a doctor, studied medicine, just like Carlisle, Bella shouldn't be wearing shoes on both feet, especially not high heels."

Edward's smile, it was dazzling, beyond happy, filled with love, his eyes, so much like that of his beloved mother, Elizabeth, but a thousand times more beautiful, dancing. "No, Alice, it is you who should know better, know that I would never, ever do anything to endanger Bella, make her suffer pain. Just so you know, for your information, my Bella's leg is completely healed, hence why she is not wearing a brace, as those things can be quite uncomfortable, why she is wearing the beautiful frock that she is, as the skirts are extra long, cover her legs and footwear when somebody is not lifting them up as you are now. It would be very much appreciated if you kept your hands to yourself, touched not the skirts of my Bella's frock in front of Charlie, we do not wish to arouse suspicion."

Before Alice could speak again, Carlisle darted to stand beside her, his cold, gentle fingers gently probing at what used to be Bella's broken leg. "Incredible," awe and wonder clear in Carlisle's voice. He turned his gaze to Edward, his golden eyes curious. "How did you manage this, accomplish it? Yesterday her leg was broken, and now it is in one piece, healthy and healed, as if James had never broken it."

Esme came over next, placed a hand on Carlisle's shoulder, and now that Bella was paying close attention, wasn't blind to the truth anymore, she noticed that, while her touch held a little, a very little, genuine love, it was mostly . . . Bella didn't know what the right word for it was, but it definitely didn't hold a candle to her and Edward's love, so pure and potent. "I'm sure you and Edward can discuss this at length later, but right now we've got a big problem . . ." Esme shuffled nervously from foot to foot, the movement more graceful than a human's. "We've never hosted anything like this, as we didn't need to, don't know how to set everything up."

Elizabeth came to life beside Edward, clapped her hands together, her smile incandescent, filled with joy, excitement, and deep, motherly love. "Oh, on the contrary, Esme, there is no problem at all, the three of us, Edward's father, my husband, Edward, and I, we used to throw lavish, formal parties all the time. Although we never hosted a gathering such as this one, as Bella was not alive then, and my beautiful boy, my beloved son, could not fall in love with any other girl, for she is his missing half and he is hers, the premise for how to set everything up is quite similar." She turned to Edward, touched her fingers to his cold cheek, Edward bending down to make it easier for her. "It has been a long time since we did this, my beautiful boy, my beloved son."

Edward kissed his mother on the cheek. "Too long, Mama. It is not the parties themselves that I missed, the large gathering of people, but simply being with you, helping you set up, hearing you laugh and mingle with our guests, charm them, playing a piano duet with you as it became customary."

Elizabeth stroked Edward's hair lovingly, the touch that of a mother to her child. "It is the same for me, my beautiful boy, it is not the parties themselves that I have missed, but setting everything up with you, then, when the parties are over, cleaning up, playing the piano with you as it became customary, watching you toddle after me as a young boy, then, when you were a young man, coming up to me to make sure I lack for anything not, dancing in your father's arms, then, when you were old enough, teaching you how to waltz." She pressed a kiss to Edward's forehead, her eyes bright, filled with pride. "I see you intent to keep the tradition your father and I started, of dancing together in private once the party was over, alive."

Bella didn't see what happened next, how Elizabeth and Edward set up everything, as they were moving too quickly, Edward not letting her go even for a second, but soon they were right back in the living room, just waiting for Charlie to arrive. Bella pressed a honey-sweet, warm kiss to his throat, then his lips, decided to ask him what she wanted regardless of who might hear. "Will you play the piano for me?"

They were sitting on the piano bench in less than a second, Bella cradled close to Edward's side. "What is it that you would like to hear, mon coeur, mon doux ange?"

She leaned her head against his shoulder, pressed a kiss to the skin there through his clothes. "The new melody, the one you began to compose shortly after we became betrothed, completed before our trip to Chicago."

Without a word, Edward began to play, his pianist fingers, long, strong, and graceful, so very gentle, loving with her, moving gracefully over the keys, a sweet, loving melody, no hints of melancholy or sadness, filling the room, the whole house, for that matter. She closed her eyes, laid her head against his shoulder, relaxing, happy to be here with him, In this moment, the people in the room, both the Cullens and Elizabeth, fading away so it was just her and Edward, was vaguely aware of Jasper coming downstairs at some point.

She didn't know how much time passed in this way, didn't really care, but, when she felt Edward hesitate, the beautiful melody breaking off slightly, felt him tense, she let her eyes fall half open. "Wha—"

He had her sitting on his lap, straddling his thighs, her beautiful frock not sliding up despite the intimate position—in less than a second. He cupped her face, his cold, gentle fingers running over her soft, warm skin, then kissed her, soft and sweet and deep, deep as he was willing to without fear of hurting her, that was polite for company, making her heart race, beat akin to that of a trapped bird's. "Panic not, mon amour, everything will be fine no matter what, but I will give you a heads up so you are not shocked or faint. Charlie is here, is about a minute and a half away from the house, however, he is not the only one, as Renee and Phil are in the car with him. That is what he was doing yesterday, picking them up from the airport, why he was running so very late, as first Phil and Renee's flight got delayed about half an hour, then there was a lot of traffic."

Bella groaned, let her head thud lightly against his chest. "Please tell me not that she is thinking of wedding plans, how to help us with our wedding. What she considers a good idea, 'cool' and 'acceptable', is very exotic for me, even more so than Alice's ideas, and that is really saying something, you know how exotic and overboard she can go, would even be dangerous if I had you not."

Bella shudderd, remembering her mother and Phil's wedding, how her mother had chosen to ride into the sunset with her new husband, it had nearly given her a heart attack, she'd been panicking the whole time, only calmed down when her mother and Phil landed safely. "Usually a bride and groom, they simply get into a car, drive away when the wedding reception is over, but that was not enough for my mother. No, she chose to fly over part of the ocean in a hot air balloon, and that is safe enough, it is very true, what was not safe about it, though, it was that she and Phil, along with the pilot, were not the only ones in it, as she chose to have not one, but two fire breathers in the balloon with them. The only reason why I agreed to her crazy idea is because Phil told me he would keep her safe."

Edward shuddered, too, then cradled Bella closer to him, and Bella guessed it was because he didn't like the idea, the mere thought of Bella being under so much stress, having to act as the mother rather than the daughter. "My beloved mother, Elizabeth, she would never allow Renee to force us to agree to such a crazy idea, not unless it is what we both want, and since you and I both do not wish for such exotic things in our wedding, there is no reason to fret so, mon amour. Fondly enough, she is not, thank God, thinking of wedding plans for us, helping us with the wedding, is actually really, really worried about meeting my beloved mother, Elizabeth, how she interacts with you, as if she does not already love you as her own flesh and blood, and . . ." Edward's beautiful eyes widened, his face filling with worry. "Oh, dear God, poor child . . . Renee is pregnant."

Bella's eyes widened, her heart picking up speed, beating like that of a trapped bird's. All her life flashed before her very eyes, the first time she cooked for both herself and her mother, as she had gotten tired of eating burned food, all the times she had to talk her mother down from doing something crazy, act as the adult, and so, so much more.

Now, she was going to have a sibling, though whether it was a boy or girl, she didn't know, and he or she would have to go through the same thing, though perhaps this time it would be different, her sibling luckier than she had been, because her mother had Phil now, seemed happy and contented. She shook her head even as that thought passed through her mind. No, her future sibling wouldn't be better off than she had been, because while it was true that her mother had Phil now, Bella hadn't had to travel, move to a different town, a different place, every two months as a child, and this baby, her future sibling, he or she would have to move every two months or so. "How far along is she?" It was a rasp, her voice inaudible to human ears, but, thank God, Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, he wasn't human, was a vampire, heard her perfectly.

A soft, honey-sweet, cold, deep kiss that was still polite for company pressed against her lips, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, lightly running over her bottom lip, making her shiver from pleasure, relax a little, lean further into him.

"I cannot give you an exact answer, be certain, however, as I am just now starting to pick up activity from the unborn babe's mind, though it is nothing concrete, nor images and feelings, more akin to a radio current, which I was not able to before, I reckon she is just past the one month mark, when the babe's brain separates into three different parts, as the cerebrum and cerebellum are not yet active, hence why I can only hear something akin to a radio current. The cerebrum is the part of the brain we used to think, feel, and remember, and, as I said, this part of the brain of the fetus inside Renee's womb is not yet active, hence why I cannot hear anything concrete, even thoughts that are that of a babe, though I can hear something akin to static sounds in a radio station, as the cerebrum is very clearly there, developing, but there nonetheless."

He paused to take another sweet kiss, this one a blood kiss—biting gently at her lower lip, careful not to inject any venom with his teeth, drawing a little blood, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, quickly and discreetly flicking out to lovingly lick at her blood, heal the surface wound he'd created, making Bella shiver with pleasure again, press herself even closer to him. "The cerebellum is the part of the brain in charge of motor control, and the unborn babe is not yet kicking Renee or drinking amniotic fluid, I would know about it thanks to my ability, if he or she was, as while the cerebrum is the part of the brain we use to think, remember, feel, my abilities are not limited to that, to only reading the cerebrum, though, of course, it is the one part of the mind where I can gather the most information from, thus, I can tell which part of the brain is active, and which ones are not. This was, still will be, though our relationship is not the same as it was yesterday due to the realizations I came to last night, very helpful for Carlisle, of course, as I can help him determine whether a patient is truly brain dead or not without much hassle."

Edward's beautiful eyes brightened, and he got a far away look, a small, contented smile tugging about the full curve of his lips. Bella didn't flinch away, think that he was crazy, a psychopath, for his mind, it was a vampiric one, able to process and think of many things at once, rapidly. "Wha—"

He pressed a cold finger to her lips, silencing her, and that finger, it was soon replaced by his lips, moving against hers, his kiss hard, but soft, filled with love and passion finely leashed. "No, mon coeur, this I will not tell you now, will wait until we are alone again to share this information, for it is part of a secret you and I hold dear, mon doux ange." The words were soft, quiet, should have been too quiet for Bella to hear—she was still human, after all, but she did

.

Had Edward found out something about her future pregnancy and their future child, be it Edward or Elizabeth Catherine? She brought a hand down to rest on her abdomen, over her for now, empty womb, subconsciously at the thought, Edward placing a hand over hers, his smile, brilliant and beautiful and filled with love, indicating that was exactly the case. Bella didn't panic, look around the room nervously, wondered if they'd been overheard, because she knew they hadn't, else, if there was even the slightest possibility of them being overheard, Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, he wouldn't even have insinuated to their own, little secret.

Footsteps, the sound of someone walking back into the living room. Bella turned, saw the living room had been empty, Elizabeth just now walking back in, blushed. She'd been so absorbed, first listening to Edward play the piano for a while, though she didn't know how long it was, then with their conversation, she hadn't realized everyone had left. Edward picked her up, like how a groom carried his new bride, moved fast like only he could, went to sit next to his beloved mother, Elizabeth, likely because of a silent request from her, on the couch. He shifted Bella so she was not sitting next to him, but on his lap, Elizabeth putting her arms lovingly round them both, as a mother did her children.

Just then, she heard Carlisle's voice, who was playing host, though, Bella had no doubt, soon as luncheon got started, as they walked into the dining room, Edward and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, would take over, as they were use to doing things like this, where Carlisle, Esme, and the rest of the Cullens were not. "It's good to see you again, Charlie." There was a slight pause, Carlisle likely shifting. "Welcome to Forks, Renee, Phil."

A couple of more seconds passed, then Carlisle and Esme walked into the house, then the living room, followed by Charlie, Renee, Phil, Alice, and Jasper. They were talking quietly amongst themselves, all of them, but they stopped talking when they looked up, their mouths dropping open in shock at the way Edward, Bella, and Elizabeth were huddled close together, the way Elizabeth had her arms round both Edward and Bella, as if they were both her children, her own flesh and blood—Jasper putting an arm around Alice, pulling her closer to him, no doubt figuratively drunk on the love exuding from Edward, Bella, and Elizabeth.

They really shouldn't have been shocked, at least not Carlisle, Esme, Alice, and Jasper, they already knew how close Edward, Bella, and Elizabeth were, that Elizabeth treated Bella as a daughter, as her own flesh and blood. Out of the Cullens in the room, it was Carlisle and Esme who recovered first, Alice and Jasper taking a bit longer due to Jasper being figuratively drunk on the love filling the room, the love between Edward, Bella, and Elizabeth, as well as the romantic love between Edward and Bella. Carlisle and Esme turned to Charlie, Renee, and Phil, and it was Carlisle who made the introductions. "Charlie, Renee, Phil, this is Elizabeth, Edward's mother, Elizabeth, these are Charlie, Renee, and Phil, Bella's mother and father, as well as her stepfather."

Before the beautiful, strong butterfly that was Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, could speak, Bella saw her mother elbow Charlie lightly. "I told you so."

Edward laughed, low, soft, and quiet, too quiet for human ears to hear, the only reason why Bella was able to hear was because she and Edward were literally centimeters apart, his cold, sweet, addictive, intoxicating breath caressing the soft skin of her nape. She looked up at him, a question in her eyes. He shook his head, mouthed, "I will tell you later, mon ange," pressed a honey-sweet, cold kiss to her nape to take out the sting of his denial to tell her right away.

Charlie's face went bright red, and though Bella wasn't a vampire yet, she knew blood was rushing to the surface of his skin, saw Jasper tence, Carlisle place a hand on his shoulder, Alice squeeze his hand. Those gestures, Bella thought, they were designed to calm Jasper as well as restrain him, because Bella hadn't forgotten what Edward'd told her last night, that Jasper struggled with not killing humans more than the rest of the Cullens. She buried her face against Edward's chest, snuggled deeper into him, needing the figurative warmth, because Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, he was a vampire, was cold to the touch . . . at least to humans—and protection of his body, was thankful her parents and Phil would probably attribute her actions to shyness.

Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, however, he was a completely different story, and though he couldn't read her mind, he understood why she was acting thus. Slowly, gently, carefully so as not to ruin her hairdo, he stroked her hair, lean down to whisper in her ear, "It is all right, my Bella, you are safe, I will not allow you to come to harm or Jasper's thirst to drive a wedge between us, not now . . . not ever. Should Jasper lose control, his thirst getting the better of him, I will have you out of the Cullen household, will be running with you in my arms, back to our cottage, in less than a second, and Esme will make certain Charlie, Renee, and Phil are safe while Alice and Carlisle calm Jasper down, get his thirst and urges under control."

Bella pressed a sweet, warm kiss to his throat, then his lips in a silent "thank you" and "I trust you."

"Guess I'm not wearing a suit for nothing," Charlie muttered under his breath , clearly oblivious to the tension in the room"

That was when Bella reassessed everyone in the room, realized both Charlie and Phil were wearing suits, and her mother was wearing a deep green cotton dress with a sequence of lace at the bodice.

Elizabeth broke the tension, stood up, but not before giving Bella's hand a reassuring squeeze, stroking Edward's hair as a mother did her child. "It's very nice to meet you in person, Charlie, as we spoke on the phone two days ago, nice to meet you, too, Renee, Phil." It was strange, so very strange, hearing Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, speak this way, so very modern, and Bella found herself wishing luncheon and the Inquisition was over already so they could stop pretending when it hadn't even begun.

The "hello" between Charlie and Elizabeth was awkward and formal, because Charlie didn't know what to make of Edward's mother, a strong, beautiful butterfly, Charlie reaching out to shake Elizabeth's hand, saying, " It's nice to meet you in person, too, Elizabeth," before stepping back, scratching the back of his head nervously.

The greeting between Renee, Phil, and Elizabeth was a lot more outgoing, though still awkward, likely because neither Renee, nor Phil knew what to do, Renee choosing to greet Elizabeth with a kiss on the cheek and a, "Hi, Elizabeth, it's nice to meet you," while Phil chose to keep his greeting very similar to Charlie's.

Then the three of them, Charlie, Renee, and Phil turned their attention to Edward and Bella, though more specifically Bella, all spoke at the same time, as if they'd rehearsed this over and over. "Hello, Edward, Bella. We see you're feeling a lot better, Bella?"

A nod, Bella attempting to keep calm, her breathing and heartbeat even. "Yes, much better, thank you."

Bella could see so many questions burning behind her mother's eyes, braced herself, because, for once, Alice wasn't the only wrecking force in the room, but, Bella comforted herself, at least Alice and her mother weren't working together, teaming up. She winced at the thought, imagining all sorts of crazy, exotic scenarios they would put her through, unconsciously pressed herself closer to Edward. Thankfully, she was saved from her mother's exotic ideas and questions by Elizabeth, who flawlessly took on the role of hostess. "Please, join us in the dining room for lunch."

Bella sighed, reluctantly went to get off of Edward's lap, which she really, really didn't want to do, she loved being in his arms, snuggled up against him, when he tightened his arms around her. "Now where do you think you're going? Remember our deal, mon amour? No crutches in sight for the entirety of lunch, unless, of course, you need to use the restroom, but I carry you wherever you go, mon ange," Edward lied easily.

She kissed him, soft, quick, and fleeting, which Charlie, Renee, and Phil would probably attribute as an "apology" kiss, as they didn't know her leg was completely healed now and she didn't need a brace, to use crutches anymore. "I'm sorry." Bella lowered her voice, spoke in the softest of whispers so only Edward, his beloved mother, Elizabeth, and the Cullens could hear, added, "Thank you." Because Edward, her beautiful fiance, he'd come up with the perfect excuse so he didn't have to let her go and she didn't have to stop being in his arms, not yet.

Now it was Edward who kissed her, soft and fleeting. "You're forgiven, mon doux, I know how nervous you are, though you have no reason to be." He lowered his voice, spoke so low she shouldn't have been able to hear him, as she was still human, but she did. "Anytime."

He carried her to the dining room slowly, like a human, Edwards beloved mother, Elizabeth, Carlisle, Esme, Alice, Jasper, Charlie, Renee, and Phil no doubt following close behind, and Bella couldn't help but mutter, 'I hate pretending, having to move slow, like a human, not because we want to take our time, be at leisure, but because we have to pretend," under her breath.

Edward laughed, low, soft, and musical, his cold, sweet, addictive, intoxicating breath caressing her skin, making her crave his blood, the intimacy and pleasure they felt when they fed off of one another.—the words he spoke for her ears alone. "Patience, my Bella, we need only pretend for a couple of hours, then everything can go back to normal, ma belle sirène."

Bella winced. Hours, they had to pretend for hours? She unwrapped one of her arms from round his neck, touched her fingers to his cold cheek. "I think not that I can pretend for that long." She swallowed , a muted burn starting at the back of her throat. Her thirst, she knew, it wasn't like that of a vampire, not yet, nor like the one their future child, be it Edward or Elizabeth Catherine , would probably have, as Bella was fully human, but it was still uncomfortable. "Not consecutively, anyway."

Edward's look was assessing , then he shifted his hold so he held her with naught but one arm, ran his cold fingers gently, slowly, lovingly, over her throat, making her pulse somersault. "Thirsty, are you?" He didn't wait for her to respond, went on, "Fret not, my beautiful bride-to-be, I will figure out a way that we can feed off of one another throughout luncheon." A pause, a little vee marring his forehead. "We will have to go back to our semi-permanent home, our little cottage, to do so, as I do not wish for Jasper to feel the intimacy and pleasure we feel when feeding off of one another, as I am certain you do not, either." His eyes, so much like that of his beloved mother, Elizabeth, but a thousand times more beautiful, brightened. "Perhaps we can use the blood of the other as a palate cleanser between courses, as I am certain my beloved mother, Elizabeth, prepared multiple courses."

It was strange, so very strange, the way Edward and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, had set the table, not because Bella didn't know what to expect, she'd read plenty of books, had a pretty good idea of what a table for a luncheon such as this might look like in the late 19th, early 20th century, but according to everything she knew, couples weren't suppose to sit next to each other in formal luncheons such as this, yet, and how they managed this, she didn't know, there were seven places set on one side of the table and three on the other. Her confusion, though, it soon cleared up when she remembered what Edward had told her, that his beloved mother, Elizabeth, was bound to treat them as a mother hen treats her young chicks.

Bella wasn't about to complain, because, to be honest, this seating arrangement, it made it a lot easier for her and Edward to discreetly show affection to one another than if she'd been sitting next to either one of her parents, Phil, or any of the Cullens. Edwards beautiful eyes took in the dining room table, the way each place was set up with a dinner plate, then a salad plate on top, then a soup bowl, three different forks, a knife, spoon, linen napkin, a glass for water, and a glass for white wine. She also saw him take in the two bread baskets on the table, one on either side, as well as two small plates containing some sort of flavored herbal butter, each with its own butter knife. He turned to his beloved mother, Elizabeth, who had just walked in beside them, his eyebrows knitting together, a little vee marring his forehead. "We are not eating à la française, Mama? "

Elizabeth shook her head, touched her fingers to Edward's cold cheek, the touch that of a mother who loved her son, had missed him very much, Edward bending down to make it easier for her. "No, my beautiful boy, though I have to admit, I did ponder it for a bit, but I wish not for our food to get cold, thus, I think it best if we eat more similarly to à la russe."

He closed his eyes, leaned into his mother's touch, even as he cradled Bella closer to him. "I will help you, Mama."

Another shake of her head, a soft, loving, motherly kiss pressed to his forehead. "No, my beautiful boy, you stay here with your beautiful bride-to-be, else, if neither of us are here, Charlie, Renee, and Phil might accost her, overwhelm her with questions, and I wish to surprise you, too, as I made another one of your favorite menus, though this time it is a luncheon menu rather than a supper menu."

With a kiss pressed to Edward's cold cheek, then to Bella's warm one, Elizabeth disappeared to the kitchen, Edward carrying Bella to their side of the table, setting her down with a kiss on her forehead, her lips, then sitting down next to her so he would be effectively between her and his beloved mother, Elizabeth. Not saying anything, he reached for the basket on their side of the table, took out an individual bread, the size of each bread akin to the scones Edward made for afternoon tea, cut it in half, steam rising from the inside of the warm, delicious‐looking, saffron bread. He reached for the butter next, grabbed a small amount, spread it on one half, the heat from the bread melting the butter, handed it to Bella, prepared the other half for himself in much the same way. "Here, mon amour, try this, it is truly delicious, I remember eating it as a human, preparing it in the same way I did now."

She didn't question him, hesitate, her trust in him so deep. She brought the bread to her mouth, took a small bite. It was delicious, soft and moist, the herbs from the butter complementing the bread perfectly. "Mmm."

Edward's cold, gentle thumb ran over her lips, wiping away crumbs, which he then licked off, his eyes dancing, bright with excitement. "Poor Alice, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme, they are not looking forward to this at all, having to pretend to eat and enjoy human food, I, on the other hand, am very much looking forward to it, as I have missed this so, though I wish we had to pretend not.."

Edward fell quiet at the sound of footsteps, Charlie, Renee, Phil, Carlisle, Esme , Alice, and Jasper walking into the dining room. Charlie and Phil both whistled, and when Bella looked up, away from Edward's eyes, she saw everyone was taking the dining room in, an expression of awe and wonder on each and every one of their faces.

Everyone sat down, Jasper ending up sitting between Carlisle and Alice, likely so they could restrain him if anything went awry, Charlie ending up between Renee and Esme, with Carlisle on Esme's other side, Edward discreetly placing the linen napkin on Bella's lap, giving her leg a reassuring squeeze, his cold, gentle fingers caressing her skin through her clothes.

No one spoke, likely because Charlie, Renee, and Phil were too nervous, hadn't expected the closeness between Edward, Bella, and Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth. Bella was glad for the silence, wanted to put off the Inquisition for as long as possible even as she wanted this luncheon to be over so they could stop pretending. She ate the piece of bread and butter Edward had prepared slowly, her left hand sliding under the table, taking Edward's cold one, and Edward, for his part, he traced small, loving, soothing circles on her skin, his fingers lightly playing with her bracelet

.

Elizabeth came back, was carrying a light blue porcelain tureen along with a ladle, took her place next to Edward, taking his free hand in hers, partly because he was her beloved son and she had missed him so very much, but also to show Charlie, Renee, and Phil that the three of them, Elizabeth, Edward, and Bella, they were united, a loving, healthy family. Elizabeth opened the tureen, a wonderful aroma filling the air, and when Edward saw what it contained, what soup his beloved mother had made, his eyes lit up, his whole body radiating excitement. He turned to her, his beloved mother, Elizabeth, the joy and love on his face, one that could only be produced by a mother, kissed her on both cheeks. "Oh, Mama, you made potage de Crécy?"

A nod, Elizabeth touching her fingers to Edwards cold cheek, the touch that of a mother who loved her son, her eyes bright. "I know we usually only have it once a year, on August 26, along with very rare occasions, but this is a truly special occasion."

She served everyone first, serving the four Cullens in the room less than everyone else, mindful that they'd have to choke up everything they ate now later, before serving herself, Bella, and Edward. When everyone had soup in front of them, there was several minutes of silence, Charlie, Renee, Phil, Elizabeth, Edward, and Bella truly enjoying their soup while the Cullens bravely ate theirs, then Charlie broke it. "This is delicious, Elizabeth, thank you for agreeing to meet us and for cooking. Does Edward know how to cook like this, too?"

Elizabeth stroked Edward's hair affectionately, her face glowing with motherly pride and love. "You're most welcome, Charlie, and yes, of course my beautiful boy, my beloved son, knows how to cook like this, too."

Charlie looked at Bella, seemed about to say something, but got interrupted by Phil, the only reason why he spoke probably so Charlie didn't feel like he had to conduct the Inquisition on his own. "You know, I do believe king Edward VII did eat this kind of soup on August 26th for his whole reign, from 1901 to 1912, too, just like you and Edward do."

Bella was dabbing at her mouth with the linen napkin, tried really hard not to laugh, because what neither Charlie, nor her mother, or Phil knew was that that year, 1901, was the year Edward had been born, the time span of King Edward VII's reign, Edward's childhood, his most foundational years. She lost the battle, tried to hide her laughter with her hand, was grateful to see she wasn't the only one laughing, as Edward and Elizabeth were laughing, too. Charlie, Renee, and Phil blinked, taking aback, looked between Bella, Edward, and Elizabeth, a very clear question in their eyes. Elizabeth reached over, took Bella's free hand in hers even as she grabbed Edward's with the other, gave them each a loving squeeze. "Ah, it's nothing, only a private family joke."

"So," her mother decided to change the subject, probably feeling awkward, left out, "have you and Edward decided on a wedding cake flavor yet, Bella?"

She bit the inside of her cheek voraciously, then stopped, reminding herself she didn't want to start bleeding with Jasper nearby . . . not with his tenuous self-control, the fact that he had a harder time not killing humans than the rest of the Cullens. Truth be told, she and Edward, they hadn't discussed such small details, not yet, but . . . she turned to him, the rest of the people in the room, save for herself, Edward, and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, fading away. "I was actually thinking we could do a fruit cake for our wedding cake covered in a simple vanilla cream. I don't think it should be more than three tiers tall, as we won't have a lot of guests, though."

Edward tipped her chin up, kissed her, soft, honey-sweet, and fleeting. "Sounds perfect, mon coeur."

Bella wasn't expecting Elizabeth's words. "I could make your great, great-grandmama's recipe.'

The love and excitement pouring off of Edward, Bella, and Elizabeth was palpable, made Jasper sigh, pull Alice closer to him. Before they could respond to Elizabeth's offer, Alice and Renee spoke. " Now, hold on a second, Elizabeth, your cooking is delicious and it's clear you love Edward and Bella very much, but this is going to be their wedding, a once in a lifetime event, they should have someone professional, a baker, make their wedding cake."

Elizabeth was undeterred, and, Bella had the feeling, if her mother hadn't spoken up along with Alice, Elizabeth would have simply ignored her comment, waited for Edward and Bella to respond. As it was, Elizabeth kept her voice calm, her statement flawlessly polite. "I understand where you're coming from, however, regardless of our different opinions, this decision, it is up to my beautiful boy and Bella."

Everyone in the table turned their attention to Edward and Bella, waiting for their answer. They didn't even hesitate, have to think twice, both spoke at the same time, said, "Yes, please," Edward adding, "Can you please make apple fool with custard instead of cream, too, Mama?"

Elizabeth laughed, and her laughter, it was soft, that of an English Rose, a mother delighting in her son. "Of course, my beautiful boy."

Charlie looked seriously uncomfortable, as if the plan he had was backfiring on him. "So you're okay with them getting married so young, don't think they should wait a little, at least a year?"

Edward tensed, pressed a soft ,honey-sweet, cold kiss to Bella's wrist, over her pulse, something in Charlie's thoughts clearly having disturbed him.

An elegant shrug from the beautiful, strong woman that was Edward's mother. "I'm more than okay with them getting married now, ecstatic, actually. And no, I don't think they need to wait a year, there's no point and they shouldn't torture themselves. Besides, it's not strange, though it might seem that way to you, for them to get married this young. My late husband and I, we actually got married when we were not much older than Edward and Bella are now." Elizabeth left out the fact that when she and Edward senior had gotten married, it was a different time, the beginning of a different century, but Charlie, Renee, and Phil didn't need to know that.

Elizabeth stood up before Charlie could ask any further questions, likely to get the next course, and Edward's face turned apologetic. He looked so sincere, if she didn't know better, Bella would have thought he was being genuine. "Oh, I'm so sorry, but Bella and I forgot we have to make a couple of phone calls, have to step away, will be only twenty minutes at most. If you will excuse us." He pushed his chair back, away from the table, left his linen napkin on his chair, stood up, gathered Bella into his arms, like how a groom carried his new bride, left her linen napkin on her chair, too.

"Take your time, my beautiful boy, don't worry about us waiting on the two of you!' his beloved mother, Elizabeth, called from the kitchen, before anybody else could say something.

He walked slowly, like a human, towards his old bedroom, and once they were in, the door firmly shut, he jumped out the window, ran fast like only he could, and they were across the Forks River, in their own, little cottage, their bedroom, a mangled, twisted tube of tungsten in one of his hands, Bella backed up against the wall, faster than before, when Emmett's vile, perverted, sexual thoughts had upset Edward . She went to speak, but his lips, cold, hard, familiar, came down over her own, and he was kissing her, pressing cold, honey-sweet kisses that drove her mad, made her melt into him, to her lips, biting down gently at her lower lip, careful not to inject any venom with his teeth, drawing blood, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, flicking out to lovingly lick at her blood. She threaded her fingers through the rich, heavy, cool silk of his hair, pulled at the strands in just the way she knew he liked, biting down at his lip, too, taking a blood kiss of her own.

Eventually, when she needed to breathe—stupid human needs, she turned her head to the side, but his lips, cold, hard, but soft, insistent, they didn't leave her skin, simply moved on to her neck, kissing desperately along the hollow of her throat. "What," she hitched in a breath when he let his teeth scrape lightly, very gently, over her pulse and straining artery, "was Charlie thinking that disturbed you?"

He laughed once, soft and husky. "That if you and I get married now, our marriage could end up like his and Renee's did, only instead of you leaving me it will be me leaving you." A kiss pressed to her throat, the brush a very sharp teeth against her soft, fragile, sensitive skin. "As if I could ever do that, leave my heart and soul."

He must have decided she'd gotten enough of a break, because he kissed her again, and this kiss, it made her dizzy, her knees becoming weak, Edward simply picking her up, carrying her over to the bed, laying her down, his body coming over hers, Charlie's thoughts disturbing him more than she first realized. He made an impatient noise in the back of his throat, shrugged off his suit jacket and shirt, fast like only he could, leaving them discarded on the floor. She threaded her fingers through the soft, heavy, cool silk of his hair, tugging at the strands just the way he liked, her warm tongue flicking out to lovingly lick at his blood, even as his own tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, did the same. "What," she said when Edward pulled away, realizing she needed to breathe—stupid human needs, "did you discover about my pregnancy and our future child, be it Edward or Elizabeth Catherine?"

He pulled away from the soft, sensitive, fragile skin of her throat, his eyes shining, two bright, beautiful jewels of emerald green, set a hand gently to her abdomen, over her for now, empty womb, his cold, gentle fingers tracing soft, rhythmic circles on her skin through her clothes. "That our future child, be it Edward or Elizabeth Catherine, he or she will age only infinitesimally faster than a human, about one point three times faster, thus, your pregnancy will last just over eight months."

Edward glided his cold, gentle fingers, the temperature of his skin the perfect antidote to the scorching, burning heat in the room, from her abdomen, up her ribs, to her nape, lifting her head so he could take another slow, sipping, blood kiss. "I cannot be certain of what I am about to share with you, as none of the mothers in the legend survived, but, according to the legend, the babes stop aging at different points, when they reach different physical appearances, the oldest I could find being twenty-four, while the youngest is sixteen. Again, I cannot be certain of this, mon amour, but I reckon the differences in the physical appearance of the babes when they reach maturity is due to the mother's physical appearance when giving birth, coupled with the father's physical appearance. As you and I will both look seventeen when you give birth, as you will stop aging during your pregnancy, mon doux ange, mon trésor, I reckon our future child, be it Edward or Elizabeth Catherine, will reach maturity, stop aging, when his or her physical appearance is that of a seventeen-year‐old."

Not for the first time, Bella was glad Edward had no problem keeping up with her, his mind a vampiric one, able to process and think of many things at once, what she had to ask him next seemingly a total change of subject, but it also had to do with their future child, be it Edward or Elizabeth Catherine. "Do you reckon, my love, my beautiful fiance and future husband, that I will be able to breastfeed our future child, be it Edward or Elizabeth Catherine, even after you change me? I mean, I know vampire venom prevents a human from changing in any way once they have been turned, but it would be really nice, a deep, bonding experience for the three of us, if I could breastfeed our future child, be it Edward or Elizabeth Catherine."

Cold, gentle, familiar fingers gliding down to rest over her abdomen, over her for now, empty womb, then gliding back up to her nape as he took another blood kiss, this one deep, so deep and passionate, it made her heart race, beat akin to that of a trapped bird's, her blood boil beneath her skin. "Normally, the answer to your question, mon amour, would be a no, but as so many things we thought impossible, such as me drinking of your sweet, sweet blood, blood that is tailor-made for me, you drinking of my blood, blood that is tailor-made for you, are possible, I reckon yes, mon doux ange. I mean, we need only look at the facts, according to everything we knew before my beloved mother, Elizabeth, came back into my life, both of our lives, my venom was supposed to hurt you, make you feel as if you were burning alive, when I change you, but it does not, does the total opposite, brings you extreme and complete pleasure."

Another sweet kiss, this one place to the hollow at the base of her throat, Edward careful not to stain any of her skin with blood. "Perhaps vampire biology, what we are and are not capable of doing, our physiology and how our venom works, is not truly known at all, is a complete mystery. However, one thing is certain, once we are turned, we age not, are unkillable by any human means, immune to disease and the ravages of time."

A shake of his head, Edward taking another kiss, this one, a blood kiss, pressed against her lips. "We can ponder the marbles of vampire biology and physiology later, but right now, let us get back to the matter of our future child, be it Edward or Elizabeth Catherine, shall we? I will purchase a breast pump, I think, so that we might leave our future child, be it Edward or Elizabeth Catherine, with enough sustenance while Mama and Papa are gone during your transformation, will leave him or her with my beloved mother, Elizabeth. Of course, before I change you, you will breastfeed our future child, be it Edward or Elizabeth Catherine, and we will bathe him or her together, as he or she is our babe and no one else should get to bathe him or her for the first time."

A glance at his watch, a wince, his expression becoming regretful. Bella, she didn't need to read minds to know why he had become thus. "We have to go, get back to luncheon, do we not?"

A nod, another sweet blood kiss pressed against her lips, Edward unable to stop touching, kissing and caressing her, as addicted to her as she was to him. "Yes. While my beloved mother, Elizabeth, can keep Charlie, Renee, and Phil, even Alice, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme at bay for as long as we need, I reckon it is best that we get this Inquisition over with."

He shrugged on his shirt and suit jacket, fast like only he could, took Bella into his arms, like how a groom carried his new bride, making a quick pit stop in the washroom to clean their mouths of blood, then he was running, getting out of their home, through the forest, back to the Cullen household, jumping in through the window of his old room, fast like only he could. He slowed down, walked and open the doors slowly, like a human, and Bella couldn't help but let out a groan of frustration. She hated this, having to pretend, put on some sort of mask, loved when Edward could be himself, fast, so fast, faster than any of the Cullens, any vampire she knew, beautiful, and strong, didn't have to pretend, play human, when they were alone.

A caress of her cheek, and though his fingers were cold as ice, a fire erupted there, where his skin came in contact with her own. "Patience, mon coeur, this luncheon will be over soon, then we can stop pretending."

Bella didn't question how it was that he knew what she was thinking, because though he couldn't read her mind, her body language must have given her away, simply buried her face against his neck, pressed warm, honey-sweet kisses to his cold, hard, smooth, diamond skin. When she looked up again, once they were in the dining room, she saw Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, had flawlessly engaged Charlie, Renee, and fill in some sort of interesting conversation, and how she managed to do that, Bella didn't know, they were all interested in different topics, after all, but she was eternally grateful. She also saw everyone had a small, empty plate beside them, which weren't there before, meaning she and Edward had, indeed, used the blood of the other as a pallet cleanser. She couldn't help but smile at the thought, reach up to steal a quick kiss from him before they were noticed.

Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, who was the first one to notice them, stood up even as Edward came to their side of the table, hugged them both, gave them each a kiss on the forehead. "I trust everything went well, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my son?"

A nod, Edward kissing his beloved mother on the cheek, followed by Bella, this greeting a warm one, one between family. "Yes, very well, Mama."

Edward set Bella down on her chair, placing her linen napkin on her lap, then took his place between her and his beloved mother, placed his own linen napkin on his lap, his beloved mother, Elizabeth, leaving, going to the kitchen to get their next course. When she came back, Bella was surprised to see her carrying a huge tray containing two white gold platters within, but no salad, which meant they'd likely eaten the salad while she and Edward were gone. One of the platters contained roasted vegetables, the other a whole lamb, which, Bella guessed from its appearance, had been roasted over a spit. Hearing several gasps, she turned, saw everyone, save for her and Edward, had dropped their mouths open. "How—" Charlie began, shook his head. "Elizabeth, we don't know how to carve a lamb like that."

A shrug, Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, not worried in the least. "That's fine, Charlie, Edward, my beautiful boy, my beloved son, knows how to do it."

Bella turned to Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, saw he radiated excitement, joy and love. He grabbed the three plates on their side of the table, pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, her lips, murmured in her ear, "I will return to you in naught but a moment, mon ange, will go serve everyone, get you, my beloved mother, Elizabeth, and myself some lamb loin, the best, healthiest cut of lamb."

Bella watched him walk to his beloved mother, Elizabeth, watched him hug and kiss her on both cheeks, ask her something much too low for her to hear, then hug and kiss her on both cheeks again. He began serving everyone, again, serving the four Cullens in the room less than everyone else, just as his beloved mother, Elizabeth, had done with the potage de Crécy earlier, mindful they'd have to choke up everything they ate later, was coming back to sit beside her, their two plates held in his hands, his beloved mother, Elizabeth, beside him, in three minutes because he had to serve everyone at human speed, had to pretend, put on a mask. Once everyone had their food, was eating quietly, Charlie began the Inquisition again. "So, Edward, now that your mother's back in your life, will you legally change your name to what it was originally?"

Surprisingly, it was Carlisle who answered, spoke before Edward could. "Yes, he will." Everyone, including Bella, Edward, and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, turned to look at Carlisle, Charlie, Renee, Phil, Alice, Jasper, and Esme's expressions shocked. "Don't get me wrong, he'll always be welcome here, a part of the family, but I know how painful it was for him to change his name under my suggestion, to make things easier for people."

Bella examined Carlisle's expression carefully even as he spoke, because the expression he had on his face, it was one Bella had never, ever seen before. He looked . . . guilty, regretful, as if he was just now realizing Elizabeth had, and would always know what was best for her beloved son, even on her deathbed, and everything he'd done during their first fifteen years together to make Edward's life "better", changing Esme, then Rosalie, was totally unnecessary, had only caused him more pain than good.

Bella wondered if seeing the way Elizabeth had berated Emmett for his perverted thoughts had woken up something in Carlisle, made him realize something. Perhaps, but Bella doubted it would make much of a difference now, she, Edward, and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, were still going to have a difficult conversation later, and she didn't know the extent of Carlisle's realizations, if he'd realized things at all. Perhaps his statement, the fact that he'd told Charlie Edward would change his name back to what it was originally, had nothing to do with realizations and everything to do with the fact that he was seeing Elizabeth, Edward, and Bella interact together, didn't want Edward to feel like he had to hold back, keep his new name, the surname Cullen, out of loyalty to Carlisle. Yes, Bella thought, that was more likely, though she wouldn't know for sure until she, Edward, and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, were alone, discussed things.

Edward relaxd, as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and Bella knew it had. It was true, Edward had told his beloved mother, Elizabeth, that perhaps he would switch the order of his surnames around, but that was before the realizations he came to last night, and neither Bella, nor Edward wanted their future child, be at Edward or Elizabeth Catherine, to have a surname associated with lies and a surface level love, not when they knew how much a name could influence a person. Still, if Edward would have answered Charlie that he was going to remove the surname Cullen from his legal name, it would have made him seem ungrateful, and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, had raised him better than that, but Carlisle had removed any sort of moral obligation for Edward to keep the surname Cullen by answering Charlie himself. Edward inclined his head. "Thank you, Carlisle."

Charlie ate a piece of roasted lamb, chewed, then swallowed. "So what is going to be Bella's name when the two of you get married, Edward?"

The love exuding from Edward was palpable, made Bella feel as if she was being wrapped in a warm blanket, and she saw Jasper close his eyes, savor the emotions coming from Edward, all the love and happiness, because it was rare, so very rare, for the Cullen household to be filled with such potent, positive emotions. Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, lifted her wrist to his lips, pressed a honey-sweet ,cold kiss to her pulse. "Isabella Marie Masen."

Phil stirred, the question he asked likely on behalf of her mother, who was jittery on her seat, one hand cradling her yet flat, pregnant stomach. "So who will officiate your wedding ceremony?"

Bella winced, her heart picking up speed, she and Edward, they hadn't discussed that yet. The question of who indeed would officiate their wedding ceremony was a complicated one. If they were any other couple, be it human or vampire, it would have been quite simple, as they could get literally anyone to marry them, but she and Edward, they were unique, couldn't choose just anyone, not with all the changes they were going through. Quite bluntly, it was very possible something special, magical, would happen during her and Edward's wedding ceremony, and they didn't want to scare whoever was marrying them.

A squeeze of her hand, cold lips against her neck, very sharp teeth brushing gently, lovingly, against her throat, these small love touches too quick and subtle for anyone to notice. "I was actually thinking an old family friend, Gideon, could do it."

Carlisle, Esme, Alice, and Jasper looked confused, so, Bella thought, this Gideon must be a Masen Evans family friend. Her suspicion was confirmed moments later, when Elizabeth turned to Edward, genuine surprise on her face. "You still keep in touch with him?"

A nod, Edward's beautiful eyes, so much like that of his beloved mother, Elizabeth, but a thousand times more beautiful—glinting as he chewed on a piece of lamb, then swallowed.

"Tell me, how is the little rascal doing? I haven't seen him since your father's wake." Elizabeth's face lit up, her eyes going somewhere far away for a moment, filling with memory. "You, my beautiful boy, were always more mature than him, though he is four years older than you. Such a hard time he used to give his mother, always showing up late to events, dirt and leaves in his hair. Has he found a wife yet, settled down?"

Another nod, Edward shifting, putting his knife and fork down, having finished his entree, his arm coming about Bella, pulling her to his side, fitting her to him. "Yes, he has, I actually went to his wedding about a year and a half ago. He and his wife, Amelia, who is very nice, have a home in Castle Comb , Wiltshire."

Bella knew Edward was still speaking because she was paying attention, could see his lips moving, but what he said was much too low and fast for her to hear, the reason why he spoke thus likely so Charlie, Renee, and Phil didn't get this information. Bella hated this, the fact that they couldn't speak freely, at least not for her ears to hear, too.

Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, however, he didn't allow her to be kept in the dark for too long, because he knew how frustrating it was. He leaned in to kiss her cheek, then murmured in her ear, "Gideon specializes on marrying couples like us, of the supernatural world, who wish not to go through the traditional channels, but still want something that is spiritually binding, believe in one God, who has no physical form or substance." A pause, a soft laugh much too low for anyone else to hear. "Of course, he has never married a couple like us before, not only because you, mon doux ange, are human, and all the couples he has married thus far are both vampires, but because of all the changes you and I are going through. He is bound to ask my beloved mother, Elizabeth, an excessive amount of questions, his vampuric mind ever curious, for he was always interested in the supernatural world, fairies, dragons, vampires, werewolves and such, even before he became a vampire himself."

It sounded perfect, but . . . Bella leaned in to kiss his cheek, her lips moving over his cold, hard, smooth, diamond skin as she spoke, keeping her voice low so Charlie, Renee, and Phil wouldn't overhear. "My scent, my love, will it not make his throat burn?"

A shake of his head, Edward pushing his chair back, effortlessly lifting her up, bringing her into his lap. "Yes, but no more than it would Carlisle or Esme, for he and his wife, Amelia, are vegetarians, too, just like I use to be, survive solely on animal blood, akin to the Cullens. They have met not before, though Gideon knows about them, the reason why Alice, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme are starting an inquisition of their own in their thoughts right now—for I have ever wished to keep them separate, Gideon and his wife, Amelia, people with who I could simply be Edward Masen and not Edward Cullen, for it ever hurt, the fact that I listened to Carlisle, changed my surname, felt as if I was erasing a piece of my past, something which my beloved mother, Elizabeth, taught me to never, ever do, forget my past, the importance of true, loving, family ties."

Bella looked up, away from his beautiful, perfect, angel's face, saw they were alone, no one else sitting at the table or in the room. When had everyone left? Why had she not noticed them leaving? It didn't matter. "Are we alone, my beautiful fiance and future husband?"

A nod, his beautiful, full lips curving. "Yes, mon amour, though my beloved mother, Elizabeth, is in the kitchen, getting the pudding ready, but Alice and Jasper stepped out on a quick hunt, Charlie is attending a quick phone call, and Renee and Phil wish to ask Carlisle and Esme some questions, but fret not, as Esme and Carlisle can hear us not so long as we continue to speak thus, as they are not paying attention to all the sounds around them."

She shifted on his lap so they were completely facing each other, wrapped her arms about his neck, threaded her fingers through the soft, heavy, cool, rich silk of his hair. "My scent, my blood, my love, does it not make your throat burn anymore?"

His arms came about her back, cold, gentle, strong fingers stroking over her spine. "Yes, but differently than that of Carlisle and Esme, or any other vampire, for that matter, always has been—though I did not realize it until last night, my cravings deeper than a simple desire to satisfy my thirst, for it is the pleasure, the intimacy I crave most, for you and you alone to give me the sustenance I need, your sweet, sweet blood tailor-made for me, as my blood is tailor-made for you." Edward shifted his hold, his cold , gentle, strong fingers brushing over her wrist where James'd bitten her and Edward had sucked the venom out, drinking of her blood for the very first time, causing her pulse to somersault. "The time has come for you to know the truth about the night James 'bit you and I sucked his venom out, I reckon, for I would not begin our marriage with lies or half truths, mon coeur."

Her eyebrows knitted together, confusion marring her face. "Wha—'

He took a soft, deep , sipping, blood kiss, only able to do so because Jasper wasn't there, and while Carlisle and Esme were vampires, too, their self-control was far, far better than his, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, flicking out to lovingly lick at her blood, all the while being careful not to inject any venom with his teeth. "I was not forced to drink of your sweet, sweet blood that night . . . at least not entirely, not the way I led you to believe. Carlisle offered to do it, suck the venom out, for he was worried I would be able to stop not once I got a taste of your sweet, sweet blood, as he knew I had not tasted human blood before, how much your blood called and sang to me, even as Alice insisted it was no use, that James's bite would change you, make you like us no matter what we did, for she had foreseen it."

Bella shivered, the thought of anyone but Edward, even Carlisle, though he was kind and gentle, drinking of her blood, making her feel sick to her stomach, violated. Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, he didn't misunderstand her shiver, think that she was cold, tightened his arms around her, cradled her closer to him. "I refused, forbade anyone to touch you, spoke to Carlisle as I never had before, even after he changed Rosalie and she was transforming, told him that if he so much as drank a single drop of your sweet, sweet blood, no matter how small or meniscule, I would never forgive him, would consider it a violation, cut him and the rest of the family off forever, that you, your body, heart, soul and blood were mine, and it will be I and I alone who would suck the venom out, ever get to taste your sweet, sweet blood, my heart and soul screaming, my body burning with a hot rage at the thought of anyone else doing it."

His jaw clenched, his fingers running gently over her hair, this man so strong he could break her like a twig ever gentle with her. "Afterwards, when I was certain none of the Cullens would come near you, I ran to you, fast like only I can, brought your head into my lap, stroked your soft, beautiful skin, so hot and feverish, clammy with sweat from the way you had been twisting and writhing on the floor."

He closed his eyes, pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. "I thought I knew what to expect, had heard it inside of the minds of my 'adoptive siblings', as well as Esme's, the feeling of the beast, a monster that should never, ever be unleashed being wholly satisfied, but I was wrong, so very wrong, what I felt naught akin to that of my 'adoptive siblings' and Esme, my feelings not of a predator when capturing and killing its prey, but akin to that of a husband when tangling in the sheets with his wife. I had never, not until that moment, felt as close to you as I did then, mon ange, as if it was just you and me, the rest of the world fading away. At the time, I put it down to adrenaline and the fear of losing you, someone else's venom, venom that was not mine, changing you or you dying on me, now, however, I know differently, know the way I felt, it was because it was always meant to be thus, me drinking of your blood, you drinking of mine."

A pause, another sweet, deep, blood kiss, this one deeper than the last, Bella, too, biting at his lower lip, drinking of his blood. "I tried, really tried, to let not venom code my tongue as I drank of your sweet, sweet blood, sucked James's venom out, though,I, of course, did not inject any of my own venom with my teeth, else, you would be a vampire now, but it was instinctual, driven not by the predator within me, but by my soul, to let my tongue be soaked with venom as I licked and sucked over the wound, draink of your sweet, sweet blood, sucked James's venom out, as if I had always known deep down that my venom, it would not bring you pain, but complete and utter pleasure. I reckon the reason why my venom healed you not then as it does now is because we were not then as we are now, betrothed, the part of our souls inside the other not yet fully active."

A shiver of pleasure, Bella pressing herself closer to him. "I remember, my love, but I put it down to a daydream, my mind's way of coping with the excruciating pain that James's venom spreading through my system caused, for how could such pleasure be mixed with such pain?"

A light squeeze, Edward picking up her left hand, kissing each and every one of her fingers, then her ring, silently telling her it was over, that he would never allow her to go through such pain again. "It was then, as I was drinking of your sweet, sweet blood, sucking James's venomout, that I resolved never to leave you, for I could not bear the thought of anyone else holding you as I was doing then, kissing you, or getting a taste of your sweet blood. Of course, I fought with what I thought were my selfish desires, for I wanted very much to marry you, change you, and keep you by my side forever, make love to you."

Tears in her eyes, her voice strained, a string stretched taut. "But if you had resolved never to leave me already, why did Alice come to warn me at the hospital of a possible future without you, where I had sunken cheeks, dark circles under my eyes, endless nightmares, was barely eating, surviving without you?"

He cupped her face, thumbs brushing her cheeks, wiping her tears away, followed by his lips. "Because, mon doux, Alice's visions are subjective, remember? The visions she had of you acting thus, filled with such sorrow that your cheeks were sunken in, dark circles under your eyes, it is a future she saw while we were running, on our way to the ballet studio where James had lured you to, when I was planning on leaving, for I thought it was the best thing for you."

A soft, sweet kiss pressed against her lips, wet and salty from her tears. "There was no chance of me leaving after I tasted your sweet, sweet blood, shared such intimacy with you." A caress of her hair, Edward careful not to ruin her hairdo. "The only reason why I apologized for bringing you into my world when we were in the hospital, before you got discharged, it was because I thought you deserved to hear it, for I had complicated your life, made it very dangerous, but I was not ever going to leave you, not unless you yourself wished me away." A soft laugh, followed by a sweet kiss. "Of course, that was, and is never going to happen, for you, ma belle sirène, are as addicted to me as I am to you."